How often do you train/how do you train?

[Celt]

Im curious how everyone approaches their training, and what kind of training you do.
Feel free to elaborate on what your personal program is.

I got bored many years ago with just sitting at a bench and punching holes in paper or empty cans. I still enjoy it, but largely because Ive incorporated other ways to shoot as well.

Several years ago I started attending formal training to learn new ideas and to get pushed to perform better.
I would typically attend 2 classes a year. Then I was practicing many things on my own private range about once a month. I would practice mag changes, shooting and moving, transitioning, shooting from behind cover and awkward positions, etc... I do dry fire practice to work on trigger control and reset, along with drawing from concealment. Then I incorporated an airsoft gun (high end glock 19 replica) so I could work on drawing from concealment and putting rounds on target. I also tend to watch training videos often to get new ideas.

This past year, I have struggled getting to my private range as my young kids are doing sports and most weekends im coaching with them. I have been getting to shoot on my own about every 3 months (that SUCKS). To compensate for getting out on my own I intend to attend more training classes. I hope to do at least 4 a year if not 6. I let my dry fire slack a little but Im feeling remotivated with this forum and Ive been getting back to it.

 

[Magnus]

I've been watching videos on youtube and then practicing what I learned at the range. Drawing from holster, laying on my back, laying on side, drawing while on my back, and any new technique I learned. I forgot where I was reading but there was a suggestion to use index cards as targets to help with aiming. I can't afford a lot of the classes, especially during the holiday seasons coming, so I make do watching. At home I started practicing safety with my 3 yr old and my wife.

 

[Acer-m14]

wish i was young ... at the end of vid .. .. laying on ground on back trying to shoot .. .. me i'm going for the bell tower or round hay bail .. LOL covert n tactical hehehe ..

 

[Acer-m14]

Last time i was at the range with a friend we set up the .270 rifles at the 100 yrd bench, shoot .. goto the 75yrd bench for the .223 bolt .. off to the 50 for the mini14 , then up to the 25 for the pistols .. did that a few time .. was fun .. we did like 5 shots at each bench .. then off loaded the pistols ..

 

[Celt]

I've been watching videos on youtube and then practicing what I learned at the range. Drawing from holster, laying on my back, laying on side, drawing while on my back, and any new technique I learned. I forgot where I was reading but there was a suggestion to use index cards as targets to help with aiming. I can't afford a lot of the classes, especially during the holiday seasons coming, so I make do watching. At home I started practicing safety with my 3 yr old and my wife.

Watching videos and practicing is great, ive done a ton of that too. Im going to be putting my airsoft pistol through its paces again.

Work and family responsibilities monopolized my time, but making the time to keep my skills sharp is also a priority so i can be better prepared to protect my loved ones.

 

[dsdmmat]

12 ounce curls.......

Ehh I don't really train anymore. I shoot then I go home reload and go to the range shoot some more the next week.

 

[Elwood]

I practice 2-3 times a month, more so lately. Been running at least a few hundred rounds a month since last spring/early summer. Lately I've been giving the G21 a healthy workout.

 

[Darth]

Mine on my own time and beliefs.

 

[PinkPanther]

I wake up and hit the SIRT for about 2 minutes doing press out and trigger press reps. Dry practice with the SIRT and spare Glock 19 for about 10 minutes each evening doing various drills. 100 rounds of live fire doing various drills every week.

I do the occasional class throughout the year. I've done classes with MDTS and Massad Ayoob. Re-qual/training once a year with my job.

 

[Shadow2]

The goal is once a week but that doesn't always happen, Def Once month. Work on what your weak with.

practicing shooting on the move isnt always available so if the opportunity arises I jump on it.

I have issues with allot of the training I've seen. In practical application it'll never be used. It won't even be used in an impractical situation. IMO just a way to justify chargeing $300 bucks for a course.

 

[FCG LLC]

Hi Celt, el al.

Keeping motivated and "fresh" can sometimes be a challenge. I train in my mind constantly. Everywhere I go, there is a scenario for me to visualize and incorporate into my "what ifs". My wife thinks I am nuts.

How often do I actually train? Clearly not enough, if looking at my expanding belly is any indication.

I try to workout every other day. For gun stuff my goal is to do some sort of focused live fire practice 2x a month. When I travel for work my gun practice falls to almost zero, and I have to revert to more visualization versus life fire. Fortunately, work keeps me plenty busy (slightly security related) so I get to add that component of ass puckering to my toolbox of skills.

Andrew.

 

[Celt]

Glad you finally made it over here Drew. Training incorporates so many different aspects, from firearms training - situational awareness and physical fitness. My Fitness training has been going pretty good as of late, I'm always working on situational awareness, and being that I have not been able to get to the range as often as I like I've been doing more dry-fire practicing at home. So I'm keeping a semi-regular schedule going.

 

[FCG LLC]

Thank you, and I agree. One area I find I, and some of my peers need work is in that honest self assessment.

How good am I really? What are my weaknesses? Sometimes as Shadow2 says, working where you are weak is a good place to start, but sometimes I find myself working on the things that give me pleasurable results, which do a great job of buffing my ego but not so much of a good job of raising my overall capabilities.

If you (like I am, and I assume Celt is) over 25, and have a significant other and possibly a dog and a couple of kids (not necessarily in that order!), individual time is a very scarce resource, and it's hard to carve out the time you need to do anything to that level where the results are satisfactory.

 

[Marlinspike]

This is a really good discussion. Hopefully it will stay on point.
I think the thing that will throw this thread off point will be separating "training" and just going to the range or the back yard and shooting, aka plinking. Yes there is a difference.

Gosh I hope I didn't just create the broken rail that will cause the wreck .....

Anyway.....

Me-
I train weekly sometimes more.... depending on the time of year and a few other incidental circumstances.
If I'm teaching its certain to be weekly or more but there is absolutely a slower season for that part of my routine and when that occurs I try to get out weekly. But the reality is during my off season, it's monthly, regardless of weather.

 

[Celt]

Marlin, your post is right on point. This thread is about training in the world of firearms and self defense.

Fcg, your spot on my friend. Im 43, with wife, 5 kids (2 older and mostly independent), a sog, a cat, and 3 fish..lol (the racoons got my chickens so im down 4 pets).

Free time is tough. Im lifting weights in my living room with my boys around since they wont let me escape to my exercise room. When i run my 6 laps i typically take each of them for 2 laps each. And i had one of my little guys clearing his garment and drawing on target with me on saturday evening. Him with a nerf gun, and me with my 19 and snap caps.

 

[FCG LLC]

Marlin, your post is right on point. This thread is about training in the world of firearms and self defense.

Fcg, your spot on my friend. Im 43, with wife, 5 kids (2 older and mostly independent), a sog, a cat, and 3 fish..lol (the racoons got my chickens so im down 4 pets).

Free time is tough. Im lifting weights in my living room with my boys around since they wont let me escape to my exercise room. When i run my 6 laps i typically take each of them for 2 laps each. And i had one of my little guys clearing his garment and drawing on target with me on saturday evening. Him with a nerf gun, and me with my 19 and snap caps.

I am right there with you. I do a 10 min workout in the mornings before I shower. 1min of something, 45 seconds of rest, 1 min of something....for about 6 exercises. When I fly I absolutely must do this, as I am (probably irrationally) terrified of DVT.

On training, every round I fire has some training component to it. I can't afford to not do this, as time is like gold and ammo is a close second. I am fortunate I spend a fair amount of my time coaching and teaching others - it is the highest form of learning (or reinforcement). When I am teaching someone else I am forced to focus and concentrate way more than when shooting on my own.

As my training partners will tell you, I am not shy about being coached. I cannot recall a single instance where I was being coached (even by shooters will less skill in that area than myself at that time) where I did not gain from the interaction - especially if there is a cell phone video recording. So long as my coach knows what to look for, it does not matter how well he or she shoots, all that matters is they know what to look for and how to point it out to me.

Fortunately I am further blessed with having eight people on my team who are pretty good shooters, and are patient with my shortcomings.

FCG

 

[Bananabandit]

My training has really slacked in a year and a half. Trouble finding a place I enjoy shooting at is a big thing. So I dryfire my glocks. Helps with flinching. I need to step up my game, though.

 

[Defilade]

Get your heart rate up. Buy a shot timer and have fun. Like this animal.

 

[FCG LLC]

Pat McNamara is a beast.

 

[Defilade]

Yes Celt give this a try, I'm sure you won't be bored after this. lol

 

[Criticalt]

Im not at liberty to say how or where I train.
I will say I go through ALOT of ammo.

 

[Phauxtoe]

i train every week for something.
rifle bullseye
pistol bullseye
self defense
steel plate (rifle and pistol)
appleseed redcoats (standing , sitting and prone)

 

[Celt]

Yes Celt give this a try, I'm sure you won't be bored after this. lol

I like his drills, and ive done some. I may need need to do more of his style training to save time. That way I don't have to have separate Fitness and firearms training sessions.

 

[Celt]

Yes Celt give this a try, I'm sure you won't be bored after this. lol

I like his drills, and ive done some. I may need need to do more of his style training to save time. That way I don't have to have separate Fitness and firearms training sessions.

 

[Defilade]

Yes he has some great drills, I do a few every time I'm feeding my babies.

 

[dsdmmat]

When I shot with a shot timer it always got my blood pumping. Something about hearing that buzzer go off got my heart rate up quickly.

 

[Celt]

I have a nice shot timer and it does induce stress.

Once i get my new airsoft m4, ill see if the shot timer works with it. Im going to set up my garage with targets and stuff so i can do drills at home, and often.

 

[Runner99]

Live fire once a week, dry fire/presentation drills almost daily

 

[Celt]

Live fire once a week, dry fire/presentation drills almost daily

That's excellent, and very diligent. I have to ask, are you married with kids? I simply don't have that much time myself.

 

[Runner99]

That's excellent, and very diligent. I have to ask, are you married with kids? I simply don't have that much time myself.

Haha, no kids but got a good woman... but she doesn't have a ring... yet
Fortunately at this pointin life, I get to be a little selfish and concentrate on my passions, fitness and firearms